HINGE ASSEMBLY FOR FLAT DISPLAY MONITOR

Abstract

A hinge assembly (300) for use in a flat display monitor includes a base seat (10), a support seat (20) and a pivotal mechanism. The pivotal mechanism comprises a pivotal shaft (30) having at least one flat surface (310). The base seat defines a pivotal hole (142) therein. The support seat defines an engaging hole (242). The base seat is rotatable relative to the support seat. The pivotal shaft passes through the pivotal hole of the base seat and the engaging hole of the support seat. One of the base seat and the support seat defines a protrusion (143). The protrusion is substantially V-shaped and has two edges (1432, 1434). The flat surface of the pivotal shaft pivotally engages with the protrusion. Another one of the pivotal hole of the base seat and the engaging hole of the support seat non-rotatably engages with the pivotal shaft.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Many aspects of the hinge assembly can be better understood with reference to the following drawings. The components in the drawings are not necessarily drawn to scale, the emphasis instead being placed upon clearly illustrating the principles of the hinge assembly. Moreover, in the drawings, like reference numerals designate corresponding parts throughout the several views.

FIG. 1 is an isometric view of one embodiment of a hinge assembly, as used in a flat display screen;

FIG. 2 is an exploded, isometric view of the hinge assembly shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is an assembled, isometric view of the hinge assembly in FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is a cut-away view taken along line IV-IV in FIG. 3; and

FIG. 5 is a cut-away view taken along line V-V in FIG. 3.

Claims

1. A hinge assembly, comprising: a base seat, the base seat including a pivot flange, the pivot flange having a pivotal hole defined therein;a support seat including a sideboard, the sideboard defining an engaging hole, the base seat being rotatable relative to the support seat;a pivotal shaft, the pivotal shaft non-rotatably engaging in the engaging hole of the support seat;two irregular washers each having a unsmooth side surface, one of the irregular washers non-rotatably connected to the base seat, another one of the irregular washers non-rotatably connected to the support seat, the side surfaces resisting each other for resulting in a variable moment when the irregular washers rotate relative to each other; two resilient washers disposed adjacent each other facing opposite directions for providing an axial force; anda holding member disposed on the pivotal shaft;wherein the pivotal shaft passes through the pivotal hole of the base seat, the engaging hole of the support seat, the irregular washers and the resilient washers, the holding member prevents the irregular washers, the resilient washers, the base seat and the support seat from being disengaged from the pivotal shaft.

2. The hinge assembly as claimed in claim 1, wherein the pivot flange of the base seat defines a protrusion therein, the protrusion is substantially V-shaped and has two symmetrical edges, the pivotal shaft has at least one flat surface for pivotally engaging with the edges of the protrusion for limiting a rotational angle between the base seat and support seat.

3. The hinge assembly as claimed in claim 1, wherein the hinge assembly further comprises two tab washers and a flat washer, the tab washers are disposed between the pivot flange and sideboard, the flat washer is disposed adjoining to the holding member.

4. The hinge assembly as claimed in claim 3, wherein the base seat comprises a main board, the pivot flange is perpendicularly extended from one end of the main board, the pivot flange defines two locking slots, a locking hole and a locking groove adjacent to each side of the pivotal hole, the locking groove is defined at a periphery of the pivot flange opposite to the main board, the locking hole is defined opposite to the locking groove, the support seat comprises a fixing board, the sideboard of the support seat defines two opposite fixing holes.

5. The hinge assembly as claimed in claim 4, wherein the tab washers each forms two opposite tabs at a periphery thereof, one of the irregular washers forms two inserting tabs at a periphery thereof, the tabs of one tab washer engage in the fixing holes of the support seat, the tabs of another tab washer engage in the locking hole and the locking groove of the base seat, the inserting tabs of the irregular washer engage in the locking slots of the base seat.

6. The hinge assembly as claimed in 5, wherein the pivotal shaft comprises a bolt cap, a middle portion and a bolt shaft, the flat surface is defined in the bolt shaft, the bolt shaft defines a thread on a distal end portion thereof opposite to the bolt cap, the holding member is a nut for engaging with the thread of the shaft portion.

7. The hinge assembly as claimed in claim 6, wherein the bolt cap is substantially a disk-like shape, the bolt cap is adjoining to the sideboard of the support seat.

8. The hinge assembly as claimed in claim 6, wherein the engaging hole of the support seat is “D” shaped, another irregular washer defines a “D” shaped latching hole, the flat washer defines an oval-shaped irregular hole, the bolt shaft of the pivotal shaft engages in the engaging hole, the latching hole and the irregular hole to ensure that the support seat, the irregular washer and the flat washer are non-roatable to the pivotal shaft.

9. The hinge assembly as claimed in claim 8, wherein one more pivot flange, one more sideboard, two more tab washers, two more irregular washers, two more resilient washers, one more flat washer, one more nut and one more pivotal shaft are provided.

10. The hinge assembly as claimed in claim 3, wherein the tab washers, the irregular washers, and the flat washer are ring-shaped, the resilient washers are plate-shaped.

11. A display monitor, comprising: a support body;a display unit; anda hinge assembly configured for rotatably connecting the support body and the display unit, the hinge assembly comprising:a base seat fixedly mounted to one of the support body and the display unit, the base seat including a pivot flange, the pivot flange having a pivotal hole defined therein;a support seat fixedly mounted to another one of the support body and the display unit, the support seat including a sideboard, the sideboard defining an engaging hole, the base seat being rotatable relative to the support seat;a pivotal shaft, the pivotal shaft non-rotatably engaging in the engaging hole of the support seat;two irregular washers each having a unsmooth side surface, one of the irregular washers non-rotatably connected to the base seat, another one of the irregular washers non-rotatably connected to the support seat, the side surfaces resisting each other for resulting in a variable moment when the irregular washers rotate relative to each other;two resilient washers disposed adjacent each other facing opposite directions for providing an axial force; anda holding member disposed on the pivotal shaft;wherein the pivotal shaft passes through the pivotal hole of the base seat, the engaging hole of the support seat, the irregular washers and the resilient washers, the holding member prevents the irregular washers, the resilient washers, the base seat and the support seat from disengaged from the pivotal shaft.

12. The display monitor as claimed in claim 11, wherein the pivot flange defining a protrusion therein, the protrusion is substantially V-shaped and has two symmetrical edges, the pivotal shaft has at least one flat surface for pivotally engaging with the protrusion.

13. The display monitor as claimed in claim 11, wherein the hinge assembly further comprises two tab washers and a flat washer, the tab washers are disposed between the pivot flange and sideboard, the flat washer is disposed adjoining to the holding member.

14. The display monitor as claimed in claim 13, wherein one of the tab washers and one of the irregular washers are non-rotatable relative to the base seat, the pivotal shafts, another tab washer, another irregular washer, the flat washer and the holding member are non-rotatable relative to the support seat.

15. The display monitor as claimed in claim 11, wherein the base seat comprises a main board defining at least one mounting hole, the base seat is mounted to one of the support body and the display unit by mean of the mounting hole, the support seat comprises a fixing board defining at least one assembling hole, the support seat is mounted to another of the support body by means of the assembling hole.

16. The display monitor as claimed in 11, wherein the pivotal shaft comprises a bolt cap, a middle portion and a bolt shaft, the flat surface is defined in the bolt shaft, the bolt shaft defines a thread on a distal end portion thereof opposite to the bolt cap, the holding member is a nut for engaging with the thread of the shaft portion.

17. The display monitor as claimed in claim 13, wherein the engaging hole of the support seat is “D” shaped, one irregular washer defines a “D” shaped latching hole, the flat washer defines an oval-shaped irregular hole, the bolt shaft of the pivotal shaft engages in the engaging hole.

18. A hinge assembly, comprising: a pivotal mechanism comprising a pivotal shaft, the pivotal shaft having at least one flat surface;a base seat defining a pivotal hole therein; anda support seat defining an engaging hole, the base seat being rotatable relative to the support seat; andwherein the pivotal shaft passes through the pivotal hole of the base seat and the engaging hole of the support seat, one of the base seat and the support seat defines a protrusion, the protrusion is substantially V-shaped and has two edges, the flat surface of the pivotal shaft pivotally engages with the protrusion, another one of the pivotal hole of the base seat and the engaging hole of the support seat non-rotatably engages with the pivotal shaft.

19. The hinge assembly as claimed in claim 18, wherein the pivotal mechanism further comprises two irregular washers each having a unsmooth side surface and two resilient washers disposed adjacent each other facing opposite directions, the unsmooth side surfaces of the irregular washers resisting each other.